A PARATROOPER who lost three limbs in a bomb blast has completed an international rally.

Corporal Tom Neathway, who works for the Parachute Regiment in Colchester, completed the Tuareg Rallye as co-driver.

He is also training for the Dakar Rally.

Cpl Neathway, of 2nd Battalion, the Parachute Regiment, was aged 25 when he was injured when a roadside bomb detonated in Afghanistan in 2008.

Ever since, Cpl Neathway has been determined to show what can be achieved even with horrific injuries.

He is part of the Race2Recovery team that appeared on the BBC2 Top Gear show last year.

The team is made up of wounded soldiers who are raising money for Help for Heroes.

They completed the nine-day Tuareg Rallye in Spain and Morocco with Tom’s team finishing tenth overall.

Cpl Neathway, speaking after he and driver Dave Marsh completed the challenge, said: “I’m really happy with how the event has gone and it has been a huge learning experience for us.

“Dave and I worked well together and learned that sometimes, we need to rein things back a little.

“We also know how the team works now, over this kind of length of event.”

They will be competing in the British Cross Country Championships this month.

Cpl Neathway spent months in rehabilitation and stood for the first time to collect a medal from Prince Charles at Colchester Garrison.

He had previously served in Iraq, Northern Ireland and Afghanistan.

Following the explosion his feet were blown off and the resulting wounds meant he had to lose his legs and left arm.